Power management apparatus and method for controlling the power management apparatus

Abstract

A power management system includes a smart socket to meter power consumption of an electric device by connecting to the electric device, and be assigned a code, a power management apparatus to display a code image when a registration mode of the smart socket is performed, and a terminal to acquire a code image of the power management apparatus and a code image of the smart socket, receive information of an electric device to be coupled to the smart socket, read the acquired code images of the power management apparatus and the smart socket, pair the read power management apparatus and the smart socket code with the electric device information, and transmit the paired information to the power management apparatus. Users of all ages and dexterity can easily register, change, and release the smart socket and the electric device, such that user efficiency and accessibility are increased.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A power management apparatus comprising:
 a display to display a message that invites the user to input an identification (ID) number of a smart socket and information of an electric device to be coupled to the smart socket in a registration mode of the smart socket; 
 an input unit to receive the ID number of the smart socket and the information of the electric device to be coupled to the smart socket from the user; and 
 a controller to pair the ID number of the smart socket with the electric device information, 
 wherein the controller, if the ID number of the smart socket is paired with the electric device information, generates a Personal Area Network identification number (PAN ID) of the smart socket representing the pairing of the smart socket with the electric device, and further includes a communication unit to transmit the generated PAN ID to the smart socket, and 
 the controller confirms a communication state with the smart socket, and if communication with the smart socket is severed, the controller searches for a PAN ID corresponding to the disconnected smart socket, and re-communicates with the smart socket having the searched PAN ID. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage unit to store the PAN ID, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and an MAC address, and store the ID number of the paired smart socket with the electric device information. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller further includes a change mode to change information of the electric device to be coupled to the smart socket, and a release mode to release the registered smart socket. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller receives power rate information from a power provider, receives power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket, and configures a driving schedule of the electric device on the basis of power consumption information of the power rate information and the power consumption information of the electric device. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller receives power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket, and determines whether the electric device coupled to the smart socket is changed on the basis of power consumption information of the electric device. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller receives power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket, collects power factor information of the electric device by analyzing the power consumption information of the electric device, and determines whether the electric device coupled to the smart socket is changed on the basis of the collected power factor information. 
     
     
       7. A power management apparatus comprising:
 a display to display a message that invites the user to input a code image of a smart socket and information of an electric device to be coupled to the smart socket in a registration mode of the smart socket; 
 an imaging unit to acquire a code image from a code assigned to the smart socket; 
 an input unit to receive information of the electric device to be coupled to the smart socket; and 
 a controller to acquire the code by reading the code image, recognize the smart socket using the code, and pair the recognized smart socket with the electric device information, 
 wherein the code is one selected from the group consisting of a bar code and a QR code, and 
 wherein the controller, if the code image of the smart socket is paired with the electric device information, generates a Personal Area Network identification number (PAN ID) of the smart socket representing the pairing of the smart socket with the electric device, and further includes a communication unit to transmit the generated PAN ID to the smart socket. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller confirms a communication state with the smart socket,
 if communication with the smart socket is severed, the controller searches for a PAN ID corresponding to the disconnected smart socket, and re-communicates with the smart socket having the searched PAN ID. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller receives power rate information from a power provider, receives power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket, and configures a driving schedule of the electric device on the basis of power consumption information of the power rate information and the power consumption information of the electric device. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller receives power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket, and determines whether the electric device coupled to the smart socket is changed on the basis of power consumption information of the electric device. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller receives power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket, collects power factor information of the electric device by analyzing the power consumption information of the electric device, and determines whether the electric device coupled to the smart socket is changed on the basis of the collected power factor information. 
     
     
       12. A method for controlling a power management apparatus comprising:
 if a registration mode of a smart socket is carried out by a user, receiving an identification (ID) number of the smart socket; 
 receiving information of an electric device to be coupled to the smart socket; 
 pairing the received electric device information with the ID number of the smart socket; 
 receiving power rate information from a power provider; 
 receiving power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket; 
 configuring a driving schedule of the electric device on the basis of the power rate information and the power consumption information of the electric device, and displaying the configured driving schedule; 
 if the ID number of the smart socket is paired with the electric device information, generating a Personal Area Network identification number (PAN ID) of the smart socket, the PAN ID representing the pairing of the smart socket with the electric device; 
 transmitting the generated PAN ID to the smart socket; 
 receiving power rate information from a power provider; 
 receiving power consumption information of the electric device from the smart socket connected by the PAN ID; and 
 configuring a driving schedule of the electric device on the basis of the power rate information and the power consumption information of the electric device, and displaying the configured driving schedule. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 confirming a communication state with the smart socket; 
 if the disconnected smart socket is confirmed, searching for a PAN ID corresponding to the disconnected smart socket; and 
 re-communicating with the smart socket having the searched PAN ID. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the pairing of the smart socket ID number and the electric device information further includes:
 pairing a PAN ID of the smart socket and an IP address with MAC address information. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 if an information change mode of the electric device to be coupled to the smart socket is performed, receiving an identification (ID) number of the smart socket; 
 receiving information of the electric device to be changed; and 
 pairing the ID number of the smart socket with the information of the electric device to be changed, and storing the paired result. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 if a registration release mode of the smart socket is performed, receiving an identification (ID) number of the smart socket; and 
 deleting the ID number of the smart socket, and releasing the registered smart socket. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining whether the electric device coupled to the smart socket is changed on the basis of power consumption information of the electric device. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 collecting power factor information of the electric device by analyzing the power consumption information of the electric device; and 
 determining whether the electric device coupled to the smart socket is changed on the basis of the collected power factor information.